Suns' Chris Paul leaves game with groin tightness

Trailing 2-0 in their Western Conference semifinal series, the Phoenix Suns now await word on the status of point guard Chris Paul, who left in the third quarter of their 97-87 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday due to left groin tightness.

The 12-time All-Star exited with 4:32 left in the third quarter after tangling with Denver's Kentavious Caldwell-Pope while trying to get rebounding positioning. Paul quickly grabbed at his groin area when he came down.

The Suns announced in the fourth quarter that he would not return.

Paul, in his 18th NBA season, ended the night with eight points, six assists and five rebounds in 25 minutes.

In Phoenix's five-game series win over the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round of the playoffs, Paul averaged 13.6 points, 8.2 assists, 6.0 rebounds and 2.2 steals.

He appeared in 59 games during the regular season, putting up 13.9 points, 8.9 assists and 4.3 rebounds per contest.